engine and drivetrain thinking of buying 1st 2002 basic q's

[mattri]

Hello to all, tried a search sorry if these have been covered before. Looking at perhaps purchasing a 76 2002. Have very little history, car has been garaged for the last three years, started occasionally. Went to look at it yesterday, battery was dead but after a charge it started right up, no smoke, no valve tap etc. Car ran and drove fairly well, suspect old gas wasn't doing us any favors. Clutch felt good trans shifted well, brakes felt strong as well. Some electrical issues with lights being dim, don't think charging system was up, not sure if it was battery, alt or reg? Typical rust, not bad enough to bother. Odometer says 30k, maybe 130k-230k?

1) How are these cars for reliability? I know thats a pretty open ended question but trying to get a general feel for them.

2) What are some common issues to watch out for? Electrical gremlins? Drivetain problems? Cooling systems? Steering Suspension?

3) How are 2002's for daily drivers? Obviously they're an older car with all of what come with that but ok for daily use?

4) How are they to work on? I've built a few motors, mostly old Fords, not a complete moron but no experience with German engineering. I've heards the top end are fairly complicated anything else to watch out for?

5) Parts availability-cost? Are the horror stories true?

Any and all help appreciated, Matt

[TobyB]

Beginner's short form: look out for:

Rust rust rust and more rust.

Bodged repairs after it was bent.

Water in the radiator instead of coolant (the head will get eaten)

Generally crappy repairs (using a toggle instead of fixing the turn signals, e.g.)

Decent dash (not perfect, just decent)

1- very, very good AFTER you get them sorted. Expect brakes, hoses,

valve adjustment, bearings, center bearing, etc- but once they're sorted,

they're more reliable than a Ford

2- see above. Rust.

3- great. You have to drive like you're a motorcycle, because SUVers

usually don't see you. But they're fun and fast.

4- dead simple. Compared to a modern car, positively agricultural.

Parts are cheap (compared to a new Honda) and easy to install.

5- no. There are a few things that you have to buy used (stub shafts, e.g.)

but most things are still in the common parts streams. And not expensive.

A complete motor rebuild WILL cost a lot compared to a smallblock Chebby,

but less than a new Integra motor will.

Oh, did I say, rust?

And it's getting harder to find someone to paint one, so

paintwork condition is worth money. A complete set of shiny bits

is expensive, but replacing a piece or 2 won't hurt so much.

Watch out for rust, especially in a sunroof car.

and then, there's rust.

Might watch out for the rust, too.

heh

t

Typical rust, not bad enough to bother. Odometer says 30k, maybe 130k-230k?

1) How are these cars for reliability? I know thats a pretty open ended question but trying to get a general feel for them.

2) What are some common issues to watch out for? Electrical gremlins? Drivetain problems? Cooling systems? Steering Suspension?

3) How are 2002's for daily drivers? Obviously they're an older car with all of what come with that but ok for daily use?

4) How are they to work on? I've built a few motors, mostly old Fords, not a complete moron but no experience with German engineering. I've heards the top end are fairly complicated anything else to watch out for?

5) Parts availability-cost? Are the horror stories true?

[jmon0261]

Here is a good link. There is a few of these what to look for threads.

But the search did me little good as well. The 02 FAQs page is a help also.

http://www.bayarea02.com/features/buying2/index.html

They are great cars and an even better community.

You can get a good 76 from California, because the are not smog exempt.

Good Luck

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies, what would be a fair price for the car as described?

[jmon0261]

Here is an example of a decent California 76

( have not seen or driven this Car )

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/793732246.html

What are they asking ? again RUST is the deal breaker.

$800 ???

[fwardell]

Send me (fwardell@bellsouth.net) an e-mail. I'll reply with a Bimmer Mag 2002 buyers guide - can't fit it on the forum.